When do people start voicing intent to run '08?

[iconoclastNYC]

I'm curious to know what the democratic field will be in '08. I guess we know Dean is out since he's DNC chair.

I hope we have another populist running who generates as much excitement as Dean did.

Any guesses who that might be, and when the might declare? Wasn't Dean one of the first to start raising money for his bid?

[TayTay]

1. The invisible primary starts now

the actual pre '08 race usually starts just after the mid-term elections. So, maybe in Nov of '06.

Then again people start to declare in the fall of the year before the race, so the actual declarations of intent to run will happen in '07. Of course, by then we will all already know who is running, depending on how we do in '06.

Is that clear?

[WI_DEM]

2. well people begin to look at it--now but they won't officially

get in (or most won't) until after next years midterm elections.

[Radical Activist]

3. They won't announce for a long time

But you can tell who is at least considering a run if you watch what they're doing. Look to see who is traveling the country raising money for other Democrats in '06. Watch who is making trips to Iowa and New Hampshire.
I think John Edwards has been to New Hampshire twice since November, and he's a genuine populist.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Well according to the Corporate media, Hillary has all but won

the Democratic primaries, while the Republican Primaries are wide open.

So I guess that as activists, we have to start now, because what's going to happen otherwise, is that the media will decide for us....again.

You see, the activists have to speak up to the masses, because in our silence, the corporate media's words will speak loud and clear.

Does this help?

[iconoclastNYC]

7. Yeah, thats part of the reason I asked

Because I want to support a nominee that will steer the Democratic party in the correct direction. And that would not be Hillary Clinton.

We need someone who looks great, talks great, has Populist appeal, who embraces and nurtures the grass and netroots, can raise lots of money, and is not afraid to piss off the Democratic establishment who seeks to annoint Hillary.

And if this person doesn't win, I'll still support the nominee, even, gulp, Hillary.

But the Democratic party would have grown, and more people will be involved, and the Democratic party would have been nudged to the left a little bit due to the infusion of additional left wing activism in the party.

So who's going to the be the Dean of '08?

[ZootSuitGringo]

10. I can only hope that it won't be

the Dinosaurs currently listed. That would mean those senators like, you know; Clinton, Biden, Bayh, Kerry, Edwards, etc., etc., etc, or even the governors of southern states without any national security knowledge, like M.Warner, Bredesen, Vilsak, etc., etc., etc.

Part of the problem with the Democrats is how predictable we seem to end up.

I keep telling those pushing the Moderate Governor "idea" that if they want to go back to 1992, they are welcomed.

Here's the perfect vehicle for that, because at least Clinton had "it". Those currently being listed really just don't.

[iconoclastNYC]

11. Maybe now is the time for a DRAFT _____?____ movement?

Maybe there could be a project to find the perfect nominee, someone who is progressive, has a name or money, good looking, good actor (speaker),

With the power of the Internet maybe we could plant an Acorn that would grow into a mighty oak?

Think about it: The People's Candidate.

[FrenchieCat]

14. Well for those who don't know,

I think that Clark fits your standards to a "T".

Even in being a great speaker, which he is (watch for him on CSPAN this weekend possibly, cause he may be on BookTV discussing the plights of refugees in the 90's).

I know that the Corporate media labeled Clark "not ready for primetime" during the last primaries....but when did I start to believe them--when they pushed Bush as the winner in 2000, or when they pushed us into war, or when they dogged Kerry out with the Swifties? They had the "Clark is not a good speaker meme" floating for a reason, IYAM. If that was their main critique of him, Dems are blessed in 2008.

Clark is someone that none of the GOP powers-that-be would expect or want rising from our ranks....a great leader who can kick ass on National Security (the GOP calling card) and clearly explain Democratic principles to their own rank and file.

The RNC and the media were and are betting against Dems picking Clark, as they take for granted that Democrats are not that smart about winning. They bet we would be afraid to put up a real intellectual populist fighter that also happened to big a great military strategist. They think that they have the Democrats pegged down tight, exactly in the box they want them in. That Democrats would never do such a thing as unexpected as nominating a General...cause it seemed so obviously the thing to do. Only Republicans do the obvious normally, and that's why they win. The last time Dems did something unexpected was to vote Clinton in as the Democratic nominee (back in 1992).

They would never expect to see Clark rise from our voices, which is why they discuss him little as possible. They Don't want us getting any smart ideas. Instead they push Hillary, Kerry and Biden.

I'm from the school of "Who needs a politician when we can have a real leader, with balls, no less"?

Whatever the media wants, give me the exact opposite.

[loro mi dicevano]

15. There are two "Draft ____" movements that I really like:

Feingold (draftruss.com) and Clark (groups.yahoo.com/group/wesley_clark_2008).

People are trying to draft everyone under the sun already (americansforrice.com even has a creepy song called "Condoleezza Will Lead Us"!).

[iconoclastNYC]

18. Yeah i heard that song and wrote about it on my blog.

Its so gross.....sounds like something the Russians would have sung about Lenin or Stalin.

[NewJeffCT]

5. it started the day after the election

And, for Bill Frist of Tenn, he formed an exploratory committee about a year ago, well before the election. I think Rudy G was angling for '08 through most of last year, too.

On our side, I'm sure a few folks have gone to New Hampshire & Iowa. I would review those 2 state forums for news on candidates visiting those two states.

[Nye Bevan]

6. 2006-2007

For the 2000 election, Kerry announced the formation of an exploratory committee on December 1, 2002, and formally announced his candidacy on September 2, 2003. Howard Dean announced his intent to run on May 31, 2002, and formally announced his candidacy on June 23, 2003. Wesley Clarke announced his candidacy on September 17, 2003. To get an idea for 2008 add 4 years to these dates.

For the field I find it very interesting to go to Tradesports.com (click on Politics): the leading 5 candidates and odds are:

1. Hillary Clinton 46%
2. Evan Bayh 10%
3. Mark Warner 9%
4. John Edwards 7%
5. John Kerry 6%

[incapsulated]

8. Two words: "exploratory committee"

When they form one, you know they are running, even if they don't announce for quite a while. It usually starts about two years before the election, so look for them in late 2006 to 2007.

[loro mi dicevano]

9. Biden has pretty much announced that he's running.

The pundits were saying that Edwards' concession speech was "the first speech of the 2008 campaign."

[iconoclastNYC]

12. I like Edwards.

He did shitty in the debate with Cheney tho, but he was good on the stump.

[incapsulated]

13. There are a few you can bet on, already

Biden, Edwards and probably... Hillary. I hate to even think about her because she will suck all the air out of the entire primary process and everyone else will be left fighting for coverage, especially if it's a large field, which I think it will be.

[FrenchieCat]

16. Please stop depressing me.

I realize that this is the conventional wisdom....but shouldn't we be trying to break passed that?

What our minds shall conceive, we CAN achieve.

That's my thought for today!

[incapsulated]

17. Sorry...

And I did this before, too. :hug:

[Discord]

19. UGH! EOM